Written answers

Wednesday, 15 June 2011

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Energy Resources

10:00 pm

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 382: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to undertake a risk assessment of the impacts of peak oil; how they might affect Ireland; if he intends to create an associated short-term and long-term crisis management plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15529/11]

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Ireland remains critically dependent on imported fossil fuels, particularly oil and natural gas. This dependency underlines the immediate and long term imperatives of enhancing energy security, mitigation of price volatility and increasing energy sustainability. National energy policy objectives are in line with overall EU policy objectives and are informed by the ongoing analytical work of the International Energy Agency (IEA) on all aspects of energy supply including the Agency's short, medium and long term prognoses for global oil and gas supply.

In line with the Programme for Government I am committed to delivering on national energy efficiency and renewable energy programmes which are aimed at moving the economy away from reliance on imported, carbon intensive fossil fuels, which increasingly display significant price volatility and working spikes in prices. Delivery on these commitments will support energy competitiveness and security as well as employment and economic activity. The Biofuel Obligation Scheme and the Electric Vehicle Programme are both designed to reduce the over reliance of the transport sector on imported oil in the longer term.

In respect of short term oil crisis measures Ireland maintains its national strategic oil reserves fully in accordance with its IEA and EU obligations. The IEA, of which Ireland is a founding member, has recently affirmed that in the event of a major oil supply disruption it stands ready, as always, to take actions to maintain supplies for its Member Countries.

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